Free Bones of Empire by William C. Dietz Page A

as if already bored with the subject. “You have been most helpful, Senator. . . . And I appreciate it. Tell me, how’s your daughter? Well, I hope.”
    Nalomy frowned. What was this? A cruel joke? Or evidence that the rumors regarding Emor were true? There was no way to know, and given how powerful the Emperor was, Nalomy knew it was important to watch his tongue. “My daughter is dead, Excellency. . . . Murdered by a mob on Dantha.”
    â€œOh, that’s right,” Emor replied hurriedly. “How stupid! I hope you’ll forgive me.”
    â€œYes, of course,” Nalomy lied.
    â€œWell, then,” Emor replied awkwardly, “I’m sure we’ll talk soon. Good-bye.”
    That was followed by an audible click as the connection was broken. Nalomy’s wife was dead, but his mistress was very much alive and clad in little more than a very revealing toga as she stepped out onto the porch. “Oh, there you are,” she said. “Lunch is ready. Who were you talking to?”
    â€œA very strange man,” Nalomy grated as he turned to follow her inside. “And one we need to replace.”

FOUR
    The city of Imperialus, on the planet Corin
    IT HAD BEEN A LONG DAY, AND BY THE TIME CATO got off the subway and let the rush-hour crowd carry him up to the surface, he was dog tired. But rather than head for the hotel and some well-deserved rest, he had a long climb in front of him. Because the apartment Alamy had found for them was upslope. Way upslope, judging from the directions she had given him via their prospective landlord’s pocket com. A selection that wasn’t going to work.
    So as Cato boarded the crowded escalator that would carry him and hundreds of other citizens up through the midslope area, he was trying to figure out how to say no without making Alamy feel bad, and berating himself for assigning her such a difficult task to begin with. She was still very young, had been raised on a nowhere planet, and had no knowledge of Imperialus. Sending her out to find an apartment had been half lunacy and half desperation.
    The climb from the escalator terminal to the upper reaches of the crater’s rim did nothing to make Cato feel better, so by the time he spotted the plaque that read ARBOR HOUSE, he was both exhausted and grumpy. But Alamy was waiting to greet him, and the look of excitement on her face was such that any complaint regarding the climb would have seemed churlish, so he forced a smile instead. “Come on!” Alamy said excitedly. “I can’t wait for you to see it.”
    The sun had already started to set as Alamy escorted Cato in through the garden, and there was something wonderfully domestic about walking arm in arm with her as she described her day. “So,” Alamy concluded, “this was the last place on my list. What do you think so far?”
    â€œI think it’s a helluva climb—but it’s a nice-looking house. Almost too nice. Are you sure we can afford it?”
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    Cato could have said “I,” and Alamy took note of the fact that he hadn’t as she looked up at him. “It’s only forty-five Imperials a month!” she announced cheerfully. “Madam Faustus likes the idea of having a policeman around the place—so she’s willing to give us a break.”
    That was true, of course, but Alamy had chosen to omit mention of the chores she had agreed to do to help offset some of the rent, fearing that Cato’s pride might get in the way. Even though she was his slave, she was his lover, too, and might become something more one day. All of which made for a confusing mix of hopes, fears, and sometimes-conflicting motivations.
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    Cato took note of the flight of stairs that led up to the second floor but didn’t say anything as Alamy opened the door and waited for him to precede her. He was both surprised and pleased by the size of the living room/kitchen